Diving Safety Lines. Spring 2015 Edition

Transcription

1 is a semi- annual release by the Afloat Safety Directorate of the Naval Safety Center. The information contained herein is a summary of research from selected reports of diving hazards to assist you in your mishap prevention program. is intended to give advance coverage of safety-related information while reducing individual reading time. This bulletin does not, in itself, constitute authority but will cite authoritative references when available. It is recommended that this bulletin be made available to all hands. From the Diving Safety Division Head CWO3 William Toby Turner Hello everyone. My name is CWO3 William Toby Turner and I reported aboard in October 2014 after completing a very rewarding tour at Naval Special Warfare Group THREE Det Little Creek. Since reporting I have had the chance to get out to a few dive lockers and submarines and get up to speed with the business of conducting diving safety assessments. My initial thoughts are that this is a pretty good job; I get to travel quite a bit and visit Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Army and Coast Guard dive lockers all over the world. How cool is that? Many of you may have heard that the Naval Safety Center has begun the process of generating the requirements for the next version of the Dive Jump Reporting System (DJRS) and I can t thank you (the fleet) enough for the input that you provided to eliminate many of the problems that existed in DJRS as well as many nice to have suggestions for the new system. At this time, we are planning for the new system to be a one stop shop for reporting dives and dive mishaps, unlike the current process of reporting dives in DJRS and mishaps in WESS. I m looking forward to seeing you during our assessments and if there is anything I can do to help anyone, please give me a call or shoot me an . Naval Safety Center 375 A Street Norfolk, VA Phone: ext. 7387, DSN ext Fax: , DSN SAFE-DIVESALVAGE@NAVY.MIL Head, Diving & Salvage CWO3 William Toby Turner Editor- HMC Del Favero Asst. Editors- Mr. Steve Scudder & NDC Benjamins INSIDE THIS ISSUE MDV s Corner Diving Compressors Managing DJRS/WESS Suspension Computer Issues/Data Requests Dive Mishap and Near miss reporting Dehydration and Decompression Sickness Top Commands

2 Master Diver s Corner NDCM (MDV/DSW/EXW/SW) David Shep Schoephoerster So, sometimes I wonder why we at the Naval Safety Center even write these articles. I look back at the last one I wrote and articles from years past that have been published, and we continue to do the same thing again and again. Two things that I spoke of last time are still our top hits on our Diving Safety Assessments (DSA); yes the name has changed from survey to assessments. I am still finding expired meds in medical kits during assessments. This is after it has been inspected, why is this; if something is expired it s expired unless you show me or one of the other team members that the shelf life has been extended. To me it just shows that we still have personnel signing off on things that don t really care. I will open every one of your kits and go through them so get them right. Training, once again we have great training plans and are following them, but what we don t do is track or follow-up as to who missed the initial training. It s up to you to figure out how you want to track the personnel that have missed the training. You can use the bottom of training sheet or a new sheet, what I want to know is how they received the training, i.e. power point, facilitator or have read the handout. Problems in the planned maintenance system are like dominoes. Once we spot something, for example situational requirements not recorded, we start looking deeper at other areas of your maintenance program. If you are having problems with PMS, ask for help. Work center supervisors look at you MIP s and MRC s and make sure they re applicable for the equipment you have, same thing goes for looking around your locker and realizing what equipment does not have coverage. We need feedback from you. What would you like to see changed in our assessments? Are we performing the assessments to your satisfaction? What else can we do at the Naval Safety Center to help you out? I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Military Divers Training Continuum (MDTC) in Panama City. Be sure to get your concerns to your SEAT representative, we are meeting prior to the MDTC. HOOYAH 2

3 Diving Compressors and Logs NDC (DSW/SW) Fred Taylor During Diving Safety Assessments (DSA), we see an assortment of compressor make and models in various configurations and sizes. The check list for air & stowage is rather straight forward and we usually cross check the PMS boards for any associated maintenance with Objective Quality Evidence (OQE) such as air sample logs, relief valves/gauge logs. The PMS coverage for all compressors is relatively standardized across the board when it comes down to compressor, drive unit and filter system maintenance. Another item which should be common to all compressors is the operational hour meter/log book. The compressor log can be a very useful tool when it comes down to tracking situational requirements or R-Checks and checks with dual-periodicity codes. When used properly, the compressor log can provide operators with a history of accomplished maintenance, upcoming checks, and parts ordering. The contents of a compressor log can be tailored by commands as needed but the required entries are frequently covered on a PMS card under the NOTES/PROCEDURE section. Trends we are seeing these days include missing or damaged log books or logs with little or no pertinent tracking information; run time in hours and systems being charged. Also, maintenance performed is another entry which is often overlooked. We frequently conduct On the spot Training with work center supervisors and maintenance personnel and go through the compressor MIP and highlight how to track maintenance concurrent with the running hours. The following are typical compressor log book entries and how they relate to maintenance checks and PMS boards: -DATE: -INITIALS: -OIL LEVELS: -START/STOP TIME: -TOTAL HOURS: -SYSTEMS/CYLINDER JAMMED: When PMS checks with dual-periodicity codes are completed they should be written in the log book across the columns. The advantage here is the entry acts as a place holder and creates a new starting reference point for that check. An example would be if the TOTAL HOURS were at 213 when changing the engine oil/lube oil filter, which is an A-1R on MIP 5921/035, then the check would be redone in 200 +/- 20 hours of operation or after 413 hours; or within a year for the annual portion of the check. Usually maintenance personnel claim they never get close to the hourly section of the dual check. But, if you are not tracking these checks properly, you are at best guessing. An example which proves this point better is the 18M-4R for the BAUER P1 filter cartridge when used on a seven standard cubic foot/minute (SCFM) Bauer 3

4 portable compressor. The cartridge is good for 35 hours of operation which may easily happen before the 18 month portion of that check. Where did the air go? SYSTEMS/CYLINDER JAMMED is probably the most important item to reference when contaminated air is suspected. If you don t know which air bank or SCUBA cylinders were jammed when bad air is suspected, then everything MUST be considered contaminated and tagged out. Use your compressors operational hour meter/log book to your advantage and accurately track your maintenance with it. Stay ahead of maintenance and watch those dual-periodicity checks. Remember the role a compressor plays in any system and realize its importance in delivering quality air to its end users; it s called a divers life support system for good reason! Managing WESS/DJRS Account Suspension NDC (DSW/EXW/SW/FPJ) Joshua D. Benjamins The Department of Defense has a growing need for higher security standards throughout the entire Navy. We also have people leaving the military and leaving Web-Enabled Safety System (WESS) accounts open and unused. The WESS program has derived a plan to eliminate the open ended accounts and raise security parameters by deactivating all accounts that are inactive for 30 days. Then followed by a 90 day window of non-reactivation requirement, the WESS accounts will be completely wiped out. To eliminate this from happening, you must enter into your WESS account within every 30 days. If you find yourself inactive for 30 days and want to have your account unsuspended, you will have to call the WESS Help (757) Ext Let them know you are locked out of your WESS account; you technically are not locked out of your Dive Jump Reporting System (DJRS) account. Imagine WESS as a huge building you got locked out of. DJRS is a room inside this building with no direct access. The sooner you get your access into WESS, the sooner you can be utilizing DJRS. Remember, WESS Help Desk has the master key, give them a call. 4

5 Computer Issues and Data Requests HMC (DSW) Chris Precht Due to a recent network push of Internet Explorer Version 10 (IE 10), we are receiving a large volume of calls from people not being able to access DJRS or WESS. This is due to a compatibility issue with our systems and IE 10. Below are the links to complete the process Under, Users Guides, Training and FAQs (middle of the page) click on How to modify IE compatibility View. 3. Complete all of the steps in the Word document. 4. Restart your computer. This must be completed for each user on the computer that is being accessed. We have also been receiving calls for people asking for statistics about dive rigs, profiles, bottom time, etc. Follow the below process to request any information that we maintain in the systems On the right side of the page click the grey bar that says statistics. 3. On the left side of the page click 5102 Data Request Form. 4. In the narrative block be as specific as possible with what statistics you are looking for. 5. Click Submit Request to NSC 5

6 Dive Mishap and Near Miss Reporting CWO3 William Toby Turner At the time of writing, we are nearing our final week of development for the Dive Mishap/Hazard bolt-on for Webb Enabled Safety System (WESS). Some of you may have seen the tutorials I ve sent out so this may be old news for you, but our goal with the new system was to streamline the process and make the system more intuitive for the end user. So far the limited feedback we have received has been favorable so that is a good sign. I ve heard some grumbling from around the fleet about the hazard reporting guidance that was released earlier by NAVSEA in AIG and I know everyone has read it and implemented the required changes into your dive manuals but there is a key statement that I feel needs reiterating. Units shall investigate and submit a HAZREP on hazards and near-mishaps that do not warrant submission of a safety investigation report (sirep). Self-evaluation and self-reporting of near mishaps is a key measure of professionalism and demonstrates concern for the greater diving community. I understand the administrative burdens all commands face. I ve been there, done that, and realize how painful it can be; but if your HAZREP submission can prevent a future mishap, isn t it worth it? So, whether you feel the ship or submarine should be reporting it, the crane crew should be reporting it, or that it should not be reported at all, think about this for a second; a fellow deep sea diver s life may be spared or serious injury averted due to your :30 minutes of administrative reporting. We have created a diving community of interest (COI) in WESS so be sure to select it when entering dive mishaps or hazards, this will ensure that all persons with notification permissions (in WESS) throughout the diving community will be notified via once the submission has made it through our reporting and quality assurance process here at the Naval Safety Center. Below are links to tutorials of how to use and navigate through the new system. We are standing by to help out in any way we can, so please don t hesitate to call or us

7 Dehydration and Decompression Sickness HMC (DSW) Dean Del Favero In diving, high levels of nitrogen are absorbed when a person is exposed to increased pressure. If this excess nitrogen is not metabolized naturally as a diver ascends, it forms bubbles that can lodge in various parts of a diver's body. The term decompression sickness (DCS) describes any one of a variety of ailments caused by absorbed nitrogen coming out of solution in a person's body. Every diver has a different level of DCS risk. Many risk factors are still not fully understood, but there are a few basic factors that experts agree increase the chance of developing DCS. Common risk factors are high body fat levels, exercising too soon before and after diving, poor fitness level of the diver, older age, illness or injury, alcohol consumption before or after diving, diving in cold water, increased blood carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, and dehydration. Dehydration causes less blood to be available for gas exchange which makes it more difficult for the body to off-gas. With the warmer season fast approaching, we need to be mindful of our hydration levels and how being dehydrated adversely affects our risk of decompression sickness. In an effort to demonstrate the increased risk of DCS due to dehydration, the Naval Medical Research Center performed a study on 57 male pigs. The pigs were divided into two groups: 31 hydrated and 26 dehydrated pigs. They were compressed on air to 110 fsw for 22 hours and brought directly to the surface at a rate of 30 fpm. In the hydrated group, 10 out of 31 developed DCS and 4 died. In the dehydrated group, 19 out of 26 developed DCS and 9 died. Dehydration significantly increased the overall risk of severe DCS and death. The key to avoiding dehydration and reducing your chances of DCS is prevention. A few key ways to prevent dehydration include drinking plenty of clear liquids, avoid diuretics like alcohol and caffeine products, consume a healthy vitamin and mineral rich diet, avoid over-exertion, and avoid too much sun exposure. If unsure of your hydration status, check your urine. The color should be light yellow to clear and odor free. If it is dark in color and smells strong, chances are you are dehydrated. Most importantly, use common sense! Sources: Decompression-Sickness-In-Divers.htm 7

8 Top 10 Navy Commands (By Total Bottom Time and Dives Conducted) TBT in minutes Total Dives UIC Command Name 604,760 11,890 N0610A NAVDIVESALVTRACEN PANAMA CITY, FL 348,987 6,931 N49746 NSW BASIC TRNG COMMAND 271,747 3,088 N32253 PEARL HARBOR NAVSHIPYD AND IMF 245,283 2,718 N4523A PUGET SOUND NAVAL SHIPYARD 214,850 2,860 N55236 SOUTHWEST RMC SAN DIEGO, CA 183,572 1,984 N41150 NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD AND IMF 172,713 2,537 N08973 SDV TEAM 1 163,649 1,702 N34123 TRADET 3 144,702 4,732 N47898 NSW DEVELOPMENT GROUP 141, N68316 NAVSUBSUPPFAC NEW LONDON, CT Top 5 Marine Corps Commands (By Total Bottom Time and Dives Conducted) TBT in minutes Total Dives UIC Command Name 413,824 5,076 M06050 MC DIVE SCHOOL (NDSTC) 33,418 1,490 M ST RECON BN, 1ST MARDIV 24,700 1,125 M20905 MARINE SPECIAL OPERATIONS ADVISORY 20, M ND RECON BN, 2ND MARDIV 20, M ST MSOB 8

9 Top 5 Air Force Commands (By Total Bottom Time and Dives Conducted) TBT in minutes Total Dives UIC Command Name 223,453 3,328 FFGS70 AF COMBAT DIVE SCHOOL (NDSTC) 10, FFFQBF 21 ST SPECIAL TACTICS SQUADRON 10, FFF3M0 SPECIAL TACTICS TRAINING SQUADRN 9, FFF3N6 24 TH SPECIAL TACTICS SQUADRON 7, FF3Y50 66 TH TRAINING SQUADRON Top 5 Army Commands (By Total Bottom Time and Dives Conducted) TBT in minutes Total Dives UIC Command Name 207,985 4,627 W1E0C0 SPECIAL FORCES UNDERWATER OPS SCHOOL 49,168 1,041 W4K724 US ARMY ENG DIVE SCHOOL (A/169) 34, WDSNAO 7TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP 33,107 1,133 WH08AA 10TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP 22, WDZ1AA 74TH ENGR DET (DIVE) Top 5 Coast Guard Commands (By Total Bottom Time and Dives Conducted) TBT in minutes Total Dives UIC Command Name 15, G70400 AVIATION TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER 13, G34273 REGIONAL DIVE LOCKER EAST 12, G32426 REGIONAL DIVE LOCKER WEST 5, G15255 USCGC SEQUOIA 3, G15245 USCGC WALNUT 9

10 Top 25 Divers By Bottom Time Number of Name TBT UICs Dives min 140 Corriell, Joshua N68438 N52861 N41150 N4523A N Baker, Christopher N68438 N0610A N45255 N30631 N41150 M Mostek, James N0610A N Miranda, Antonio 9980 N39564 N39590 N08973 N34123 N Schouweiler, Grant 9787 N0610A N Martinez, David 9715 N00750 N0610A N34123 N68316 N Miller, Matthew 9451 N0610A N45255 N4523A 61 Donnelly, Chance 9379 N0610A N08973 N42270 N55236 N Stuart, Christian 9220 N0610A N00750 N Longfellow, David 9191 N0610A N68316 N30631 N Ricker, Jefferey 9119 N39564 N46462 N34123 N08973 N Frank, Lyle 9093 N0610A N Clark, Erik 8942 N0610A N45255 N Gazda, Gerald 8661 N42838 N43505 N0610A N0464A N39679 N Bollinger, Zachary 8546 N0610A N00750 N Mccrackin, Jamison 8290 N0610A N55236 N61755 M67360 N Myers, Jason 8052 N45254 N0610A N08973 N55236 N08842 N Kumm, Adam 8049 N0610A N62758 N Caruana, Scott 8001 N0610A N00750 N Stuller, Alec 7880 N0610A N Sato, Sanford 7764 N62758 N Li, Thomas 7714 N39564 N34123 N08973 N39586 N Mcmenamin, Brian 7711 N39564 N08973 N34123 N Lascelles, Jonathan 7609 N39564 N46462 N08973 N34123 N